DUSHANBE, 20.06.2018 /NIAT “Khovar”/. A two-day International High-Level Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028 started in Dushanbe on June 20, 2018. The Conference is organized by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in co-operation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Water and in partnership with the OSCE and other international organizations.

The OSCE has been a long-term partner to Tajikistan’s Government in promoting   sustainable management of water resources with the aim of enhancing security, prosperity and the protection of the environment.

Ambassador Vuk Žugić, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, noted that water connects countries sharing water resources and jointly managing water can lead to improved relations among countries, and enhance security, prosperity and the protection of the environment. “Water can also be a source of co-operation. And this requires the OSCE investing its efforts in promoting effective water diplomacy,” Žugić said.

On the second day of the conference the OSCE together with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe will be leading discussions relating to the Action Panel on Transboundary Co-operation and Water Diplomacy.

The conference is expected to bring together representatives of United Nations agencies, international and regional organizations, international financial institutions, business community, non-governmental organizations, civil society, as well as scientists and experts.